The Growing Health Concerns Related to Vaping
Since their inception, electronic cigarettes have been marketed as a healthy, less addictive alternative to smoking cigarettes. Researchers and health professionals alike have tried consistently to debunk this notion in recent years, but the sales of electronic cigarettes have only grown since reaching an estimated annual growth rate of 115% between 2009 and 2012. The introduction of flavored electronic cigarettes has attracted younger consumers to the product, causing alarm amongst parents and health officials. A string of recent hospitalizations and deaths related to vaping has researchers convinced that the use of electronic cigarettes can have devastating consequences.
It should come as no surprise that vaping has become increasingly prevalent in the last few years. About 2.4 million middle and high school students reported using electronic cigarettes in 2014 alone, according to an article published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That number jumped to around 3.6 million in 2018. Since the beginning of this year, seemingly sudden cases of lung injuries and illnesses have been seen in otherwise healthy patients. Scientists have noticed a startling correlation between the symptoms that accompany these cases and the exposure to or frequent use of electronic cigarettes.
According to an article published by the CDC, as of October 8th of this year, lung injuries associated with vaping have been reported in 49 states. Although the exact cause of such illnesses and deaths is not yet known. Health professionals have noticed a connection between patients with lung injuries and the use of vaping products that contain a chemical known as THC. THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, is the chemical responsible for the psychological effects of cannabis. “Most patients report a history of using tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing products. The latest national and state findings suggest products containing THC, particularly those obtained off the street and from other informal sources are linked to most of the cases and play a major role in the outbreak” (Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with E-cigarette Use, or Vaping).
The rapid growth in vaping related illnesses and death this past year has gained significant media attention. The New York Times reports that there have been 1,300 hospitalizations reported and nearly 30 deaths. According to the article by the New York Times, “Vaping Illnesses Climb Upward, Nearing 1,300 With 29 Deaths”, “Federal and state health authorities are testing vaping materials and studying tissue samples from patients in an effort to find the cause of the outbreak. They are particularly concerned about the huge amount of illicit THC products in circulation, which contain unknown mixtures of solvents, diluting agents and flavorings that may be toxic to the lungs”.
The symptoms of lung injury or illnesses related to vaping include coughing, shortness of breath, chest pains, or nausea and vomiting. People are encouraged to seek immediate medical attention should such symptoms present themselves. Although the exact cause of the vaping crisis remains unknown, health officials agree that vaping is the one factor that many of the cases seem to have in common.
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